Becoming a Deacon: Emma Rankin

When I first started attending Duke Divinity School (in Durham, North Carolina) in the fall of 2019, I thought I wanted to be an elder (pastor) in the United Methodist Church. For six months that was what my mind was set on. However, when the pandemic hit and the school moved to remote learning, things slowed down for me. I was able to process what I wanted to do with my life, and being an elder was not it. That is not to say I am a bad preacher. I am actually a good preacher. I have been told by friends, classmates, and teachers that my preaching is quite good. At Duke, Christine Burkett, a professor on preaching and public proclamation, has told me that I am a gifted storyteller. However, even with the verbal affirmations that I am a good preacher, I still did not want to be an elder. In the UMC, an elder is ordained to word, sacrament, order, and service. Of these things listed, the one that resonated with me the most is service. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the stranger, care for the sick, and visit the imprisoned. However, this is not only in the Gospel of Matthew. In the beatitudes from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus blesses those who are physically hungry, thirsty, poor, and who mourn. In the Old Testament, God tells the people to bring justice in judgment, to love your neighbor as yourself, and to care for the stranger. 

There are numerous times in the Bible where people are moved with compassion to care for others. In the parable of the prodigal son, the father feels compassion for his returning son and offers him a feast. In the parable of the good Samaritan, the Samaritan feels compassion for the beaten man and cares for his body. When Jesus feeds the five thousand, he feels compassion for them.

For me all of these examples are what ministry should be. Having compassion and caring for those society has deemed unworthy. Jesus did not come so that we could sit in our pews, but so that we could love the people in this world. As I described my sense of ministry to friends and Duke faculty members, they were able to help guide me into my ministry. One of my friends told me, “It sounds like you want to be a deacon.” I had no idea what a deacon was, so I had to research it. In the United Methodist Church, a deacon is ordained to word, service, compassion and justice. Deacons connect the mission of the church to the needs of the world. They are basically a bridge. Once I had a better understanding of the position, I told one of my good friends in Louisiana that I was shifting to becoming a deacon. She asked me what it was and I explained it to her. My friend's response was, “That is totally you.”

As I reflect on the past, this has come to make sense to me, as well. When I was at The Wesley Foundation, my favorite thing to do was going on mission trips, both as a student and as an intern. I knew that I couldn’t save anyone. I am not God. I also knew that one month in a new place is not enough time for me or the team to make a significant change in someone’s life. This is not to say that our one-month missions were meaningless. However, I understand that to make a significant change, like caring for the impoverished, requires more than a month of interaction. Nevertheless, what these interactions gave me was a sense of service, compassion, and justice. I can receive the word of God by reading my Bible or going to church service. There were many opportunities for me at The Wesley Foundation to attend weekly services or Bible studies. When talking to my mother, it seems like my sense of compassion and service has always been in me. When I saw that she was sad, I tried to comfort her. When my sisters got into an argument, I tried to resolve the situation. Being at The Wesley Foundation and having the opportunity to go on mission trips has only enhanced my sense of compassion, service, and justice.

I hope that as I finish out my last year at Duke Divinity, I will be able to take classes that will help me in my journey to becoming a deacon. I pray that my compassion for other people will continue to grow as I get older. The people in this world are greatly loved by God. The church sometimes forgets that. The people in the pews are not the only ones who deserve your care. The people in your neighborhood deserve your care, as well. Pray for them and care for their spiritual needs. And if you are able, feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the stranger, care for the sick, and visit the imprisoned.

Emma Rankin joined our Wesley community in the beginning of her college years and continued in faithful service the whole time, going on to serve two years as a missionary intern. She is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity degree at Duke Divinity School and seeking ordination as a deacon in the United Methodist Church. Emma is a bright light of joy (especially if you’ve seen her sing K-POP or Hamilton songs) and a strong, steady voice of truth.